Centrifugal machine for filling of powder capsules

ABSTRACT

A centrifugal machine for filling capsules having an annular forming space for forming a powder body which is to be converted into a solid body which high density by pressing at high temperature, includes a rotatable centrigual unit on which the capsule is mounted, a holder for a replaceable, nonrotatable powder receptacle and a connection unit forming a connection which is substantially gas-tightly separated from the outside between the receptacle placed in the machine and the forming space in the capsule. The device includes a nozzle projecting into a feeding opening of the container and a sealing part connected to the receptacle. There is an elastic sleeve into which the receptacle is inserted, and the receptacle is bottle shaped and has a neck projecting into the elastic sleeve to seal between the sleeve and the neck.

Danieli et al.

[4 1 May 13,1975

CENTRIFUGAL MACHINE FOR FILLING OF POWDER CAPSULES lnventors: Sten Henrik Danieli; Arne Sundstrand, both of Vasteras, Sweden Allmanna Svenska Elektriska Aktiebolaget, Vasteras, Sweden Filed: Dec. 3, 1973 Appl. No.: 420,921

Assignee:

Foreign Application Priority Data Dec. 5, 1972 Sweden 15815/72 US. Cl. 141/34; 141/74; 141/319; 164/66; 164/116; 164/289; 425/78; 425/348; 425/435 Int. Cl. B65b l/l4; B22f 3/06; B33d 13/00 Field of Search 141/34, 72, 73, 74, 319; 264/111,1l4;164/114,l16, 66, 289, 50,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS l/l9l6 Radford et al 164/114 1,501,338 7/1924 Henry 164/116 Primary Examiner-Richard E. Aegerter Assistant Examiner-Steven L. Stephan [57] ABSTRACT A centrifugal machine for filling capsules having an annular forming space for forming a powder body which is to be converted into a solid body which high density by pressing at high temperature, includes a rotatable centrigual unit on which the capsule is mounted, a holder for a replaceable, nonrotatable powder receptacle and a connection unit forming a connection which is substantially gas-tightly separated from the outside between the receptacle placed in the machine and the forming space in the capsule. The device includes a nozzle projecting into a feeding opening of the container and a sealing part connected to the receptacle. There is an elastic sleeve into which the receptacle is inserted, and the receptacle is bottle shaped and has a neck projecting into the elastic sleeve to seal between the sleeve and the neck.

3 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures PATENTEUHAY 1 1 1 3'. 882.908

SHEET 2 OF 2 Fig. 2

1 CENTRIFUGAL MACHINE FOR FILLING OF POWDER CAPSULES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The invention relates to a centrifugal machine for filling annular capsules with powder.

2. Related Applications The particular capsule shown herein is the subject matter of an application of the same inventors, Ser. No. 420,924 filed Dec. 3, 1973 and now US. Pat. No. 3,850,557, based on Swedish application 15816/72, filed Dec. 5, 1972.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a centrifugal machine for filling capsules with powder so that a powder body whose shape is determined by the capsule is formed. In a centrifugal machine a good compaction, an even density and reproducibility of compaction and density can be obtained in annular bodies. The good compaction results in high density so that the least dimensional change is obtained when hot-pressing the powder enclosed in the capsule into a solid, dense body. Furthermore, the efficient compaction of the powder in the capsule causes the capsule to expand somewhat so that the capsule after filling tends to resume its original shape and will therefore exert a pressure on the enclosed powder. This prevents movements in the powder and reduces the risks of alterations in the location of the powder in the handling of the capsule. In addition to this, a good contact between the capsule and the powder and between the individual powder grains involves a good heat transfer during the heating before pressing. The even density causes uniform shrinking and a slight risk of deformation. After the pressing, a dense body having the same shape as the original body is obtained. The reproducibility means that the variation in measures of pressed bodies will be small. This is important since the expected variation in dimension must be compensated by an increase in the machining allowance, which, for one thing, involves a greater consumption of expensive metal powder and, for another, increased expenditure for removal of material in the final machining when the workpiece is usuallly extremely hard and durable.

The centrifugal machine according to the invention has a rotatable centrifugal unit on which the capsule is mounted, a holder for a replaceable powder receptacle and a connection unit which connects the receptacle and a capsule inserted in the machine to each other, thus obtaining a connection between the receptacle and the forming space of the container which is substantially gas-tightly separated from the surroundings. Because the receptacle is replaceable, a receptacle with an amount of powder which is adapted to the capsule volume may be inserted into the centrifugal machine. This makes it possible in a simple way to prevent the powder from being brought into contact with air and absorbing or reacting with oxygen, nitrogen, water vapor or other gases in the handling. An adjusted quantity of powder can be easily transferred into an inert atmosphere from a storage container, filled with for example argon, to a receptacle filled with argon. Possibly the powder may be transferred directly from an atomization plant to a receptacle. After filling, a lid is placed on the receptacle. In the centrifugal machine the receptacle can be connected to an argon-filled capsule with a special connection unit. The powder can thus be transferred to the capsule in an inert atmosphere. The connection unit may consist of a funnel with a spout projecting into the supply opening of the capsule and an elastic connection sleeve which surrounds the neck of a bottle-shaped receptacle in a sealing manner. The receptacle holder and the rotating part of the centrifugal machine may be capable of turning around a horizontal axis of rotation.

According to the invention, a rotatably mounted member which is arranged to hold a capsule having an annular space therein is mounted for rotation about an axis in a frame which can be swung about horizontal pivots through at least 180. The frame includes a stationary funnel which communicates with the interior of the capsule, and a holder member for a receptacle for holding the powder. The receptacle is connected to the funnel by means of a sleeve of elastic material, which has a sealing effect.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention is described more completely with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the centrifugal machine in a charging position and FIG. 2 in a filling position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the FIGURES, l designates a tubular part which is pivotably journalled in two studs 2 in the stand 3. In the tubular part 1 a sleeve 4 is suspended from rubber elements 5 and 6. In the sleeve 4 a disc 7 with a tubular central portion 8 is journalled by means of two bearings 9. A tube 10 which is joined to the sleeve 4 forms together with this sleeve a holder for a replaceable, bottle-shaped receptacle 11 with a tapered neck 12. On the tube 10 is a vibrator 13. The disc 7 is provided with a flange 14 with a groove for a V-belt l5 connecting the disc 7 to a driving motor 16 which is supported by the tubular part. A connection unit 17 may be inserted into the sleeve 8. Said unit consists of a nut 20 with a guide flange 21 projecting into the sleeve 8, a funnel 22 with a spout 23 and a sleeve 24 of elastic material which surrounds the neck 12 of the receptacle 11 in a sealing manner. The funnel 22 is journalled in the guide 21 by means of a bearing 34. The disc 7 is provided with a guide ring 25 and holders 26 for attachment of a capsule 27. This may be constructed of two plates 28 and 29 forming a forming space 30 and a hub part with a gap 31 between the plates. At the center of the capsule there is a connection sleeve 32 with an external thread. The connection unit 17 and the capsule 27 are connected together with the sleeve 32 and the nut 20. The spout 23 of the funnel 22 then projects into the sleeve 32. Because of the bearing 34 the nut 20 may freely rotate around the funnel 22.

The machine is used in the following way. It is turned so that the parts which may be turned around the studs 2 assume the position shown in FIG. 1. A receptacle 11 with an adjusted quantity of powder 33 is inserted from above into the tube 10 of the receptacle holder, the connection unit is inserted into the sleeve 8, after which its rubber sleeve 24 will connect the funnel 22 and the receptacle 11. A capsule is placed on the disc 7 and the sleeve 32 is screwed into the nut 20. The

spout 23 of the funnel 22 will then project into the sleeve 32. The only connection between the interior of the receptacle 1! and the capsule 27 and the atmosphere is the gap between the spout 23 and capsule 32. Admission of air through this gap can be prevented in a known manner by means of a flanged sealing ring 35 or by the supply of protective gas in or around the gap, so that the air is flushed away. The machine is turned 180 around the studs 2 so that the turnable parts assume the position shown in FIG. 2. The motor is started and the powder flows down through the funnel 22 into the capsule and is thrown by the rotational forces through the gap 31 out into the forming space where it is compacted through the rotational forces and possibly simultaneously vibrated. The machine can also be turned while the disc 7 is rotating.

We claim:

1. A centrifugal machine for filling powder into capsules having an annular forming space for forming a with high density by pressing at high temperature, comprising a frame, a rotatable unit rotatably carried by the frame, means for fixing a capsule upon said unit, means for driving said unit, a replaceable powder receptacle, a holder carried by said frame for holding said receptacle stationarily with respect to the frame, and an elastomeric sleeve into which one end of the receptacle is inserted forming a substantially gas-tight a connection between said receptacle and a capsule fixed upon the rotatable unit for transferring powder from the receptacle to the capsule.

2. A machine according to claim 1, in which the connection further comprises a nozzle projecting into an opening of the capsule.

3. A machine according to claim 1, in which the frame is arranged tumably around a horizontal axis perpendicular to the axis around which the rotatable unit rotates. 

1. A centrifugal machine for filling powder into capsules having an annular forming space for forming a powder body which is to be converted into a solid body with high density by pressing at high temperature, comprising a frame, a rotatable unit rotatably carried by the frame, means for fixing a capsule upon said unit, means for driving said unit, a replaceable powder receptacle, a holder carried by said frame for holding said receptacle stationarily with respect to the frame, and an elastomeric sleeve into which one end of the receptacle is inserted forming a substantially gas-tight a connection between said receptacle and a capsule fixed upon the rotatable unit for transferring powder from the receptacle to the capsule.
 2. A machine according to claim 1, in which the connection further comprises a nozzle projecting into an opening of the capsule.
 3. A machine according to claim 1, in which the frame is arranged turnably around a horizontal axis perpendicular to the axis around which the rotatable unit rotates. 